Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 February 2021
216. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the reason no open competition took place to select a body to manage the music industry support package. [8023/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI introduced the Music Industry Support Package (MISP) in 2020 to help meet the needs of the whole of the music sector in these unprecedented times. This was the first time this type of support was offered to the music industry and it was designed in a time of crisis and at short notice. to cover all music genres. It had three key components, song writing, album release and recording to ensure support across the wide range of talent working in the industry from creation to recording and promotion.
First Music Contact (FMC) is the lead national music organisation for resourcing musicians and the independent music sector in Ireland. My Department has a well established working relationship with FMC. As it is an organisation funded both by my Department for international promotion of musicians as well as by the Arts Council, FMC was considered to offer an effective way of administering the MISP. FMC has considerable experience in managing applications, and expert knowledge of the music sector, and my Department considered that it would be best placed to administer the Music Industry Stimulus Package in an efficient, timely and cost effective fashion, having regard to the immediate pressures being faced by the sector.
